FreedomWorks - Catholicshttp://www.freedomworks.org/fieldtags/catholics
enA Brief History of Public Education: School Choice in America Part IIhttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/brief-history-public-education-school-choice-america-part-ii
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><em>The first part of this series focused on the various efforts around the country to establish school choice. This piece attempts to shed light upon the history of compulsory public education in America.</em></p> <p>As the nation debates the merits of school choice I’ve noticed a common theme in the arguments of the ideas’ opponents. They assert that the implementation of school choice would abandon a noble tradition with early roots in the American founding.</p> <p>School choice opponents love to paint our compulsory public education system as part of the American promise, thus shielding it from criticism. But contrary to popular belief, compulsory education does not have a terribly long tradition in either England or the United States. Not until the late 19th century did either of these countries establish their first compulsory education laws.</p> <p>Compulsory education failed to gain any traction for several decades after the founding of the American Republic. Though it is true several founding fathers advocated some form of national education, the American people were at first unwilling to give up control of their children's learning.</p> <p>Children in the early 19th century were largely homeschooled or apprenticed to tradesmen. In stark contrast to modern students, these children received their educations with individual attention and finished with little to no debt. The wealth of learning options open to citizens allowed them to make the best decision regarding which form of education would best benefit the family.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was not until the 1840's that compulsory education first gained popular support. That decade an influx of Irish and German Catholic immigrants began to frighten what was then a thoroughly Protestant society. It was thought that ensuring the same education to all, devoid of religious or political influence, would best preserve the principles of American democracy (then thought to be threatened by Catholicism).</p> <p>The Blaine Amendments to state constitutions, which remain in place, prevented state money from going to parochial schools. It is these very amendments which are the primary obstacles in the way of states attempting to pass school voucher laws.</p> <p>Compulsory education also found support among intellectuals in the Progressive movement. For them it was essential that the state directly control the education of its citizens. Famed Progressive and educational philosopher John Dewey once wrote that “through education society can formulate its own purposes, can organize its own means and resources, and thus shape itself with definiteness and economy in the direction in which it wishes to move." Dewey like other Progressives found an example of their preferred educational system in the early Soviet Union. “The Russian educational situation is enough to convert one to the idea that only in a society based upon the cooperative principle can the ideals of educational reformers be adequately carried into operation."</p> <p>Leading the way, Massachusetts passed the first compulsory education law in 1852. As Progressive ideology gained popularity in the late 19th century other states were quick to follow suite. By 1917 every state in the Union had adopted compulsory education laws.</p> <p>It must be pointed out here that the United States had not previously been a nation of illiterate citizens. Estimates reveal that 90% of all whites in the mid-19th century were able to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic. These statistics like nothing else reveal that the impetus behind compulsory schooling was always more political than educational.</p> <p>Administrators began to implement new curriculum without any fear of losing students. Stripped of any choice concerning their children’s education, lower and middle income parents were obligated to send their children to the local public school. These parents slowly lost influence over the aspect of parenting once considered most important. Over time the system became evermore politicized, bureaucratic, detached from family, and most importantly devoid of any moral content.</p> <p>Any serious solution to the modern education problem should take into account the benefits of a repeal of the state compulsory education laws. The end of such laws would bring about an ultimate expression of school choice. Parents could choose between homeschool, trade schools charter schools, and religious schools for their children. These decisions would allow families to make the choice most likely to fit in with their financial, educational, and moral needs.</p> <p>From here going forward the nation needs to come to terms with the fact that mandatory public education simply isn't the only, or even the best, option for the public welfare.</p></div></div></div>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:18:50 +0000rousseau56017 at http://www.freedomworks.orghttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/brief-history-public-education-school-choice-america-part-ii#commentsCatholics Sue for Freedomhttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/catholics-sue-freedom
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><strong><a href="http://democracyandpower.org/wordpress/freedom-and-personal-power/ii-personal-power/%20%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Personal Freedom and Power 101:&nbsp; Personal Power</a><em></em></strong><p><em>The distinctive principle of Western social philosophy is individualism.</em></p> <p><em>It aims at the creation of a sphere in which the individual is free to think, to choose, and to act without being restrained by the interference of the social apparatus of coercion and oppression, the State. All the spiritual and material achievements of Western civilization were the result of the operation of this idea of liberty.<br>- Ludwig von Mises</em></p> <p>In order to strengthen democracy and restore freedom in America, it is imperative that every American have the liberty to contemplate, believe, associate, communicate, exchange, labor and own the fruits of his or her labor.</p> <strong>Catholics Sue for Freedom</strong> <p>An extremely powerful coalition of Catholic organizations have sued the federal government because ObamaCare mandates that Catholic institutions <em>must</em> provide contraceptive coverage to their employees.&nbsp;&nbsp; Invoking the freedom of religion and citing the First Amendment, a <a href="http://www.preservereligiousfreedom.org">website</a> representing the plaintiffs explains:&nbsp;</p> <p><em>"This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference." </em></p><p>The Archdiocese states the following on the site<em>: </em></p><p><em>"It is not about whether people have access to certain services; it is about whether the government may force religious institutions and individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious beliefs."</em></p> <p>The federal government has unleashed its oppressive power against these charities to enforce a political agenda.&nbsp;&nbsp; Professor Mary Ann Glendon of Harvard Law writes in the <a href="http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577418201554329764.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop&amp;mg=reno64-wsj" target="_blank"><em>Wall Street Journal</em></a>:&nbsp;<strong></strong></p> <p><strong></strong><em>The main goal of the mandate is not, as HHS (Health and Human Services) claimed, to protect women's health. It is rather a move to conscript religious organizations into a political agenda, forcing them to facilitate and fund services that violate their beliefs, within their own institutions.</em></p> <p>Prior to the ObamaCare mandates, Glendon cites two incidents where the government threatened to withhold financial grants from charities that did not abide by government’s political dictates.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Like most Americans, the bishops have long taken for granted the religious freedom that has enabled this nation's diverse religions to flourish in relative harmony. But over the past year they have become increasingly concerned about the erosion of conscience protections for church-related individuals and institutions. Their top-rated program for assistance to human trafficking victims was denied funding for refusing to provide "the full range of reproductive services," including abortion. For a time, Catholic Relief Services faced a similar threat to its international relief programs. The bishops fear religious liberty is becoming a second-class right.</em></p> <p><em></em>Thus, the Catholic schools and charities are suing for “…<em>the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference…"&nbsp; </em>&nbsp;Realize, most if not all of these schools and charities continue to seek government money to support their missions.&nbsp; For the last couple of decades, these benevolent institutions have been increasingly relying on taxpayers’ money.&nbsp; At least indirectly, these institutions have encouraged the expansion of taxes to finance their missions.</p> <p>Ludwig von Mises, an Austrian economist and one of the great thinkers of the 20th Century, understood the perils of coerced philanthropy.</p> <p><strong><em>Government is not, as some people like to say, a necessary evil; it is not an evil, but a means, the only means available to make peaceful human coexistence possible. But it is the opposite of liberty. It is beating, imprisoning, hanging. Whatever a government does it is ultimately supported by the actions of armed constables. If the government operates a school or a hospital, the funds required are collected by taxes, i.e., by payments exacted from the citizens.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong>Presently, the federal government is intentionally trampling on the freedoms of very powerful charities and schools.&nbsp; Simultaneously, the government taxes and mandates are restricting the freedom of every American.&nbsp; Without a doubt, the increased taxes extracted from the taxpayers reduces the freedom<strong><em> to choose and to act.&nbsp; </em></strong>Additionally, ObamaCare mandates forced on individuals and businesses restrict the freedom of every individual <strong><em>to think, to choose, and to act</em></strong>. &nbsp;These coercive taxes and mandates will greatly impact the culture and character of America.&nbsp; Again, von Mises:</p> <p><strong><em>The distinctive principle of Western social philosophy is individualism.It aims at the creation of a sphere in which the individual is free to think, to choose, and to act without being restrained by the interference of the social apparatus of coercion and oppression, the State. All the spiritual and material achievements of Western civilization were the result of the operation of this idea of liberty. </em></strong></p> <p>The lawsuit filed by these powerful Catholic institutions is a serious and extremely important challenge to imperious government. Initially, religious leaders of all faiths must realize that their advocating for more government programs and financial grants has expanded the power of government. &nbsp;These spiritual leaders must reflect, debate and articulate a means of controlling governments oppressive powers.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hopefully, the leaders of faith-based institutions will recognize the importance of <strong><em>individualism - the individual is free to think, to choose, and to act without being restrained by the interference of the social apparatus of coercion and oppression of the State.&nbsp; </em></strong><em>Hopefully</em>, many religious leaders will support a smaller, limited and community focused government, which is essential for personal freedom.</p></div></div></div>Fri, 25 May 2012 22:02:21 +0000teda56957 at http://www.freedomworks.orghttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/catholics-sue-freedom#comments